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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
archway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
Beth's
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From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
brief
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From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
buildings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
charming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
commonplace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
construction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
curios
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
Doorways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
DUCA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
Gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
IL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
inch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
Messina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
mostly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
Norman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
oldest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
picturesque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
prediction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
quaint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
sale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
Saracen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
shops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
Sicily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
Taormina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
towns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
